It's official: Madonna and Guy Ritchie to divorce

Guy Ritchie and Madonna arrive at a party in Hollywood. Photograph: Chris Pizzello/Reuters

Guy Ritchie and Madonna ended months of speculation yesterday by confirming that their eight-year marriage had come to an end. Leading lawyers predicted Ritchie would gain far less than half of the singer's estimated £300m fortune.

News of the couple's divorce was greeted with little surprise yesterday. Rather like the implosion of the Icelandic financial system, it was something that those who keep an eye on such things had seen coming for some time.

The only shock seemed to be that the marriage had lasted so long. When Madonna first stepped out with Ritchie in 1998 there was much discussion of how a relationship between pop's biggest control freak and a little-known British film director 10 years her junior could last. And even after the pair had their son, Rocco, and got married, there were perennial whispers that all was not well in any of their many houses.

In June it was reported the singer had consulted Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer, Fiona Shackleton. But just weeks ago the couple made a public show of affection at the premiere of Ritchie's film, RocknRolla, in Leicester Square in London.

Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said the couple expected to agree a divorce settlement without going through the courts. Ritchie, a mildly successful film director with far less earning power than his wife, is expected to walk out of the marriage with a fraction of her fortune.

"It is absolute nonsense to suggest that Guy Ritchie could get half of Madonna's wealth," said Andrew Newbury, a partner in family law at Pannone. "Around 90% of couples never get as far as a court hearing, but if Madonna and Guy Ritchie do, the court will look at what each was worth when they married, and at the wealth they have built up during their marriage, which is what will be taken into account."

Margaret Hatwood, a collaborative family lawyer from Thomas Eggar, added: "One of the significant things here is that a lot of Madonna's wealth was built up before the marriage. I don't think Guy Ritchie will benefit greatly from that."

Both lawyers agreed that the settlement won by Heather Mills McCartney earlier this year after her divorce from Paul McCartney was likely to be significant. The £24.3m she was awarded was a tiny slice of his estimated £825m fortune.

"In some cases, one party can claim a sort of career prejudice," said Hatwood, citing the example of Julia McFarlane, who gave up a high-flying legal job to become a stay-at-home mother and was awarded alimony of £250,000 a year in 2006 for the rest of her life in recognition of her contribution to her husband's career. "But arguably Guy Ritchie's career has been enhanced by his marriage to Madonna, rather like Heather Mills McCartney benefited from being married to a Beatle."

Barrister Joanna Grandfield, from law firm Mills & Reeve, added that if the couple had signed a prenuptial agreement it could count in any court case. "A premarital agreement, properly constituted, is likely to be given much weight in the English courts and could have a great bearing as to how assets should be shared," she said.

Ritchie, 40, and Madonna, 50, married almost eight years ago in Scotland. But yesterday the Sun reported that a recent escalation in rows had led to Madonna and Ritchie communicating via their personal assistants. It claimed Madonna had wanted to wait until the end of her Sticky and Sweet global tour before announcing the split. But the date has been brought forward with both parties wanting a divorce finalised before Christmas.

Ritchie has broken off from filming in France to fly back to the UK to inform his parents of the split, the paper added.

Madonna and Ritchie have two sons, Rocco, eight, and David Banda, a Malawian boy they adopted in 2006. Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, 12, fathered by personal trainer Carlos Leon.

Road to Ritchies

Mar 1998 Madonna meets British film director Guy Ritchie at a dinner party hosted by Sting

Aug 2000 Madonna gives birth in the US to their first child, Rocco, after an emergency caesarean section. She already has a daughter, Lourdes, by fitness instructor Carlos Leon

Sept 2000 Ritchie's film, Snatch, takes £3m in its first weekend, continuing his success after Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Dec 2000 Ritchie marries Madonna at Skibo Castle in Scotland

Sept 2001 The couple buy Ashcombe House, a £9m estate in Wiltshire

Jan 2005 The couple renew their wedding vows in a secret ceremony

Oct 2006 Couple controversially adopt Malawian child David Banda, who is flown out by private jet to the UK

Jan 2008 First rumours that the couple may split appear in the press

Jun 2008 Madonna denies having an affair with US baseball star Alex Rodriguez

Jul 2008 In an interview with US magazine People, Ritchie says: "My marriage is fine, as far as I'm aware of"

Sept 2008 The couple's public show of affection at Ritchie's RocknRolla premiere does little to quell rumours of marital problems